Do I need a water softener?

Deciding whether or not to install a water softener is a matter of personal preference. In making your decision, consider the following...

What is Hard Water?

The hardness of water refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium and up to six other minerals in the water. These minerals can make cleaning with the water “hard” or difficult. This is because hard water does not create suds or lather very well. Hard water can also leave white deposits or scale on dishes.

Water that does not contain very much calcium or magnesium is called “soft” water.

As water travels over or through the ground, it dissolves these naturally occurring minerals. Generally, ground water, or water from wells, tends to have more minerals such as calcium or magnesium. This is because the water is exposed to the minerals longer. Surface water, or water from reservoirs, tends to be softer because it has less contact with the minerals.

How Hard is Cheyenne's Water?

Cheyenne's water is generally soft but can cross into moderately hard depending on how much water we are using from wells. (See the scale to the right). On average, approximately 75 percent of Cheyenne’s water comes from reservoirs and 25 percent from wells. Also, Cheyenne's water treatment plant removes some of the minerals that cause hard water.

Cheyenne's drinking water contains approximately 70 milligrams of calcium carbonate per 1 liter of water or approximately 4.1 grains of hardness. The hardness can vary between 50 to 80 milligrams per 1 liter depending on how many wells Cheyenne is using. Water containing less than 75 milligrams per 1 liter, or about 4.5 grains, is classified as “soft.”